HORNETS made it five in a row with a hard-fought victory over a determined Batley Bulldogs side at Spotland on Sunday.

And while it may not have been one of the Rochdale outfit's better performances, they still managed to run in eight tries against the Yorkshiremen. If Mick Nanyn had brought his kicking boots with him it would, in the end, have been a comfortable margin of victory.

One or two home supporters voiced their dissatisfaction with the home side's performance, but this churlish act undermines the efforts of a gritty Bulldogs' side.

Hornets' captain Paul Smith took a much more realistic standpoint. He said: "We were fortunate to come away with two points today the way we played today. I think it's a wake-up call for us. We have been playing very well in the last few weeks and it might take a game like today to shake us up a bit.

"We came in at half-time disappointed that we had let in three tries, but when we analysed it all three tries came from their good fortune, from kicks or from errors by us. They got into a good position early on and they kept in the game. Other sides tend to lie down against us they kept in it.," he added.

"Batley didn't play like a second from bottom team. They had plenty of enthusiasm and plenty of skill as well. Like last season it looks like they have come good at the right time."

Hornets started brightly and an Ian Watson 40-20 pinned Batley deep in their own half. Radney Bowker and Richard Pachniuk combined to send David Larder over for his 12th try of the season.

The home defence was then exposed as Danny Thomas' chip kick was collected by Matt Bramald who strode over between the sticks. Eaton converted. Straight from the kick-off, Eaton's perfectly executed kick to the right was collected by Danny Maun. He drew Wayne McHugh, handed on to Eaton and the visiting scrum-half scored Batley's second, which he duly converted.

The Bulldogs' confidence was high and Hornets struggled to find their usual fluency on attack. But in the 20th minute centre Jon Roper ducked under Anthony Gibbons' feeble attempt at a tackle to reduce the arrears. Watson's excellent kick and chase sustained the pressure and four minutes later his short pass sent Smith over. Nanyn converted.

Batley were then awarded two successive penalties by referee Julian King, a late replacement for Colin Morris, and Eaton slotted over the second to level the scores.

The topsy-turvy nature of the game continued as Batley stand-off Thomas intercepted Pachniuk's pass to spring 90 yards for a try. Inevitably, Eaton added the extras.

Hornets closed the gap to two points at the break as the elusive Bowker found Matty Long and he off-loaded to McHugh for a score in the corner. The award of the try was delayed as the referee and one touch-judge, who were close to the action, needed to consult the other official who was 80 yards from away.

The home side's habit of scoring early in the piece continued as, after only two minutes a set move, a Watson dummy and a Matt Leigh drive brought a try. Nanyn goaled. Two tries in five minutes put Hornets in the comfort zone. Watson was again prominent as his long pass sent Nanyn over in the corner. Then Roper's break sent Bowker clear. He was hauled down inches short, but from the play-the-ball Pachniuk tip-toed through to score. Nanyn converted.

Batley to their credit didn't lie down as Eaton shot through a gap and was unlucky not to make the line. The visitors luck changed as one minute later Eaton's poor pass went to ground and was hacked on for Paul Harrison to touch down. Eaton's kick equalled the world record - held jointly by Henry Paul and Hazam El Masri - of 35 consecutive successful kicks.

With six minute to go Larder got his second of the day "a la Pachniuk" - sneaking over from acting half-back close to the line. Batley's chances of victory were long behind them, but they seemed intent on creating an opportunity for Eaton to break the record. And with seconds to go Thomas made a half-break slipped the ball to Anthony Gibbons and the visiting centre touched down 10 yards to the right of the posts.

Eaton held his nerve to rifle the kick straight and true despite a spate of unsporting banter from a section of the home fans. The hooter sounded to herald two more valuable points for Hornets and to end a game which wasn't helped by another below par performance from the officials.